Rudder-operating mechanism.



F. ROUISS.

' RUDDBR OPERATING MEGHANISM.

A?PLIUATION FILED MAY 4, 1911.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Il'- iii-"l ,n/n Ill/ll FIB '1 FREDERICK ROUISS, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

RUDDER-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Application filed May 4, 1911. Serial No. 625,097.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK RoUIss, citizen of the United'States, residing at J ersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rudder-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rudder-operating mechanism, and belongs most particularly with that class of steering contrivances, wherein there are interposed between the rudder and the means, whatever they may be, for turning the rudder, one or more springs for the purpose of cushioning the shocks that the rudder repeatedly receives from the waves at sea. By the use of this invention the shocks are not transmitted to the steering wheel, and the helmsman is protected from the result of them come.

spondingly.

The object of this invention is to produce a cushioned rudder-operating combination of parts having special construction and particular arrangement with respect to each other, substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 represents a top plan view of this invention. Fig. 2 is a front, or rim view, taken in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, and is introduced to more clearly illustrate the rack and pinion parts. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 00-m of Fig. 1. Fig. A represents a top plan view of a modification of this invention, wherein chains are employed to transmit the steering power to the rudder. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the modification on line y-y of Fig. 4. V

In the drawings and throughout the description, the same letter is employed to refer to the same part.

Considering the drawings, the rudder head A, has secured to it the hub B of the segment C. The rim, or peripheral portion of the segment is referred to by the letter D, and the upwardly-presented peripheral groove in the segment rim D is designated E. Between the arms or spokes of the segment, and upon the under side of the rim D, is the spring housing F, that comprises, interiorly, an arc-shaped chamber Within which are located, two springs G and H.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2, the springs are separated by a lug J, that projects into the housing F and is always rigidly connected with the sliding rack K, provided with the gear teeth 70. The rack K may be introduced into the groove E from above, at the same time placing the lug J in the hous ing F.

The length of the sliding rack K may be made a little greater than one-fourth of the circumference of the circle which it follows, but I do not confine myself to any particular length for the rack. The rack is moved in either direction by the pinion L on the steering shaft M. As it moves, the lug J compresses one of the springs G or II, and exerts a yielding pressure upon the end of the interior of the housing F, and, consequently, upon the segment G, and that pressure results in a turning efi'ect communicated to the rudder post head A. The opening between the groove E and the housing F, is best shown in Fig. 3, marked f, and the lug J travels this opening or slot. It may be here stated, that as the lug nearly fits the interior of the housing F, when it moves back and forth therein, as it occasionally does more or less rapidly, it is advantageous to provide the housing F near its ends with air ports N and n, in order that the air may escape readily before the lug.

It is believed to be now shown, that the rudder post is turned by means that include the springs, and that the parts are of special construction and arrangement. Thus, the rudder post is turned yieldingly, and, conversely, if the rudder is turned by the blows of the waves, the shock transmitted to the steering wheel, or steering machinery of any sort employed, is cushioned by the interposed springs and no injury follows.

In Fig. 2, are shown air valves O and P, arranged on the outside over air ports N and n. Those valves permit the escape of air, and, when lug J moves in either direction, the air before it may pass out of housing F. But, when the lug moves in the other direction, the air cannot readily enter behind it, and a partial vacuum is formed, which, it will be understood acts in aid of the spring undergoing compression. A further effect of the partial vacuum is to retain by atmospheric pressure the rack K in its seat groove. If air were suddenly compressed beneath the rack, the tendency would be to raise it out of its groove, and to raise it unevenly, thus interfering with its desired smooth recipgocation with as little friction as practi cab e.

Considering Figs. 4 and 5, the modification set forth therein consists in constructing the rim D with an outwardly-presented retaining groove R, and placing therein a sliding arc-shaped bar 1', provided with the lug J. In this modification, the housing F is shown as arranged upon the inner side of the rim of the segment C. The bar 1", as best shown in Fig. 5, is constructed with twin grooves S and s, and chains T and 2f occupy those grooves. The chains are secured to the bar 1 at its ends by screws U and a, or in any effective manner. The operat-ion of the invention is the same as explained for the form of this invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 8, and the air ports N and n are provided with air valves 0 and P.

With respect to the air valves, it may be further explained, that the ends thereof marked in Fig. 2 by the numerals 1 and 2, are intentionally thinned as illustrated, and are elastic, in order that when the valves are raised from the air ports by internal pressure, the spring ends 1 and 2 will return them to the ports and hold them there yieldingly when the internal pressure has ceased.

Having now described this invention and explained the mode of its operation, what I claim is 1. In rudder-operating mechanism, the combination with a rudder post, of a segment having its center attached to the post, the said segment having a groove in its rim, the said segment having a spring housing the interior of which is in communication wit-h the said groove in the rim, springs located in said housing, a movable member arranged in the said groove in the rim of the segment and having a lug projecting into the said spring housing, the said lug being arranged between the said springs, and means constructed to move the said movable member.

combination with a rudder post, of a segment having its center attached to the rud- 2. In rudder-operating mechanism, the

der post, the said segment having a groove in its rim, the said segment having a spring housing the interior of which is in communication with the said groove in the rim, springs located in the said housing, a movable toothed rack arranged in the said groove in the rim of the segment and having a lug projecting into the spring housing, the said lug being arranged between the said springs, and a'pinion arranged to engage and move the said rack.

3. In rudder-operating mechanism, the combination with a rudder post, of a segment having its center attached to the post, the said segment having a grooved rim, the said segment having a spring housing the interior of which is in communication with the said grooved rim, springs located in the said housing, a movable member arranged in said grooved rim of the segment and having a lug projecting into said spring housing, the said lug being arranged between the springs, the said housing having air ports, and means constructed to move the said movable member.

4. In rudder-operating mechanism, the

combination with a rudder post, of a segment having its center attached to the post, the said segment having a grooved rim, the said segment having a spring housing the interior of which is in communication with the said grooved rim, springs located in said housing, a movable member arranged in the said grooved rim of the segment and having a lug projecting into the said housing, the said lug being arranged between the said springs, the said housing having air ports, air valves arranged to cover the said ports, and means constructed to move the movable member.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK ROUISS. Witnesses:

JOHN J. SHEEHY, GEORGE A. FAHARTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

